me to take all cheerfully, which the Lord thought proper to lay upon me.

When it was known, what a wretched apartment I was now living in, a gracious man, whose heart the Lord opened, granted me and my poor wife a room in his own house, whither we removed. But we had not been long there, before that a new occasion occurred, in my wife's pursuit of iniquity, which ruined us again. I was returning from my labour after a hard day's work, and found a mob assembled, in consequence of her drunkenness. While I was questioning the cause, and the persons present were relating it, she gave them all the lie, abused my landlord, and in short, used such opprobrious language, that, in opposition to all my entreaty, they called a constable, and took her by force to the workhouse, where the magistrate commanded she should be confined I followed at a distance, full of tears, and distresses, until they had confined her, and then returned weeping, to look after our little child.

My heart was too big with sorrow, to sleep; but on my pillow I ruminated on the situation of my poor wife, in whom I saw the emblem of a sinner, dragged away from the obstinate commission of sin, to an eternal prison, from

whence there is no redemption. Oh! Lord! how gracious wert thou to my soul, in those seasons. Thy presence softened all. "Sweet pleasure, mingled with the pain." I found I could do all things, and bear all things, while my Lord was with me.

May any who shall read this narrative, when I am in heaven, join their songs with mine, and all the redeemed round the throne, in chaunting the high praises of the Three-One JEHOVAH in JESUS, who hath loved me, saved me, and washed me from all my sins, in his own most precious blood: to whom be glory, and dominion, and praise for ever, and ever. Amen.

And

By the advice of some friends, who thought the confinement of my wife at the workhouse, might (under God's grace,) lay the foundation for a change of heart and life; I was constrained to make application for her to remain there a little space, at board wages. though this was obtained on application, yet my poor circumstances were unequal to it. Three shillings and sixpence was every week the sum I had to pay for her board. The debts she had contracted in many places, my cloaths worn out, and no possibility of furnishing others; together with two children to maintain, and house-rent to pay all these

:

things, I could have said, like Jacob, are against me. But the Lord supported me; and his precious word afforded me constant counsel. I had all along, a well grounded hope, founded on the faithful promises of Jehovah, which, in Christ Jesus, are all yea and amen; and my soul prospered in the divine life abundantly. All this digging and dressing, was to make the plant of God's right hand planting, to flourish and bear its proper fruit, which, though to nature not pleasing, yet, by grace, yielded praise to the Lord's glory and honour. My wife sent to me again and again to take her out. And my bowels yearned, even before she sent, to do so. But my friends insisted upon a longer trial. My heart urged for her deliverance. Though, said I to myself, she hath dealt treacherously with me, she hath had no grace to do otherwise. Whereas since the Lord gave me grace, I have dealt very treacherously with the Lord; and had he dealt with me according to my deserts, I should have been cast into a worse prison for ever. These thoughts were sweet and humbling to me.

At length, however, I could forbear no longer. I begged the Court to release her. She returned. She brought with her a crust of coarse bread, by way of reminding her of

prisoner's fare; and seemingly in heart was determined to set up a reform. One bare fortnight this frame of mind continued; at the end of which, the old stream of corruption broke in afresh, and raged with more violence than ever.

It would swell my narrative to a length indeed, were I to follow the account through all the parts of the history. I pass over therefore, a thousand relations, which might be put down during the long period it pleased my God to keep me in the furnace of affliction. No doubt, I had more dross than others, and therefore my lot was wisely appointed, that I should labour in the fire. But it would tire the reader's patience.---I shall hasten to the close of that part of it, as it relates to my poor wife, though the very thought almost freezes my heart, even now, in recollection.

It was in the year of our Lord, 1747, when I had borne the yoke for about seven years, having now four children, and difficulties surrounding me in worldly circumstances, on every side, my deliverance was wrought out for me, but in such a way, as made me tremble.

My poor, unhappy, wretched wife, one morning, left our youngest child, then an infant at the breast, with the care of a neighbour, for a few minutes, as she said, promising to return

very shortly. The whole day passed, and she came not. In the evening, on my return from labour, the neighbour brought me the child, informing me of the circumstance. I lifted my eyes to heaven, and cried out: Well! the Lord knows best, when it is enough. I took the babe, thanked my neighbour for her kiudness, and went to my room with a heavy heart. I put the child to rest, and betook myself to prayer, finding my soul more than usually drawn out, concerning my poor wandering partner---that the Lord would yet shew mercy to her, and grant me a suited conformity to his holy will.

In the morning it became necessary, in order to follow my work, to provide a nurse for the child; so that requesting the kind neighbour to watch by my child, for a short space, I went forth in quest of some person, to take this charge. In crossing a lane called Howe's Lane, my wife was coming down as I entered it. She first saw me, before that I saw her, and she turned back, and ran up Holy Cross Lane, opposite to it. The moment I saw her, I called to her, and pursued her; but she outran me, and as she passed the corner of that laue, and entered Comber's Lane, she turned herself round, lifted her hand, and